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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2022–Mar 23rd, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Hazard rating will increase with daytime warming and solar radiation. Choose objectives accordingly and be aware of overhead cornice hazard.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day of the week with some models showing +3c in the alpine. The weather models indicate some sun, some cloud and even some light flurries. Either way it goes, the solar radiation, even on an overcast day will be strong and can change the snow to moist very quickly on solar aspects. Winds are forecast to be 60-80km/hr from the SW with a freezing level of 2200m. We are trending into Spring, so expect variable weather with fast changing conditions. Cooler weather expected on Thursday and Friday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Generally a well settled snowpack on polar aspects and buried crusts on steep solar aspects. We are entering the Spring period where the solar radiation plays a crucial role in determining the hazard for the day. Tuesday night will see only some overnight recovery or re-freeze as the temperature will not drop much below zero. This means that on Wednesday, it will not take long for the snow on solar aspects to become moist. Right now we have two crusts on steep solar aspects that are down about 40cm and 60cm. With daytime warming and solar radiation, expect to see reactivity on this layer (natural or skier triggered), especially on solar aspects. Wednesday would also be a good day to keep your distance form cornices.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.